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Inter-America

In North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, 140 labor organizations in 35 countries are affiliated to PSI, with a total membership of about 3.3 million workers. The regional office is currently based in São Paulo, Brazil. Contact the regional offices.

Argentinian government has revoked union and civil society participation in WTO meeting

05 December 2017

In an unprecedented action, the Argentinian government has revoked the accreditation for union and civil society representatives to the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the WTO in Buenos Aires, advising the WTO that the experts will not be allowed into the country. PSI does not accept such a blatant violation of well-established international norms and calls on the President of Argentina and the WTO Director-General to take immediate action.

PSI in solidarity with global civil society on the situation of enslaved African migrants in Libya

05 December 2017
Picture: @UNmigration/Twitter

PSI joins in solidarity with global civil society in calling for urgent action to address the human rights situation of enslaved African migrants in Libya, during the Stocktaking Meeting towards the UN Global Compact for Migration, 4-6 December 2017 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Right to Health: central to kicking out HIV/AIDS

01 December 2017

The 2017 World AIDS Day is being marked today with the theme Right to Health, under the slogan Everybody counts. This is aimed at advocacy for universal access to safe, effective, quality healthcare. Public Services International welcomes this. PSI affiliates across the world will be organising or joining manifestations, conferences, workshops and other programmes to sensitize the public.

At the Vatican, Pavanelli speaks about the contributions of the Laudato si' from the perspective of the workers' movement

24 November 2017

On 24 November, PSI's General Secretary took part in an international meeting of trade union organisations on the theme "Labor and the workers' movement at the center of a humane, integral, inclusive and sustainable development – why is the world of work still the key to development in the global world?

PSI promoting social dialogue through the Global Deal

23 November 2017
Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven

PSI has recently joined the Global Deal as part of its commitment to promoting social dialogue as a means for tackling inequality, ensuring workers’ rights and creating the foundations for peace and stability.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

23 November 2017

“Stopping violence against women is everyone’s responsibility and men must play their part” stated Dave Prentis, PSI President, as his initial words at the PSI Congress 2017’s Pledge to end Violence against Women. Lead by Greg McLean from Australia, public services male trade unionists pledged in Geneva to be key actors in this struggle, in of one of the most emblematic acts of political engagement of public services unions.

Paradise Papers: how mega-rich tax dodgers rip off workers and fuel populism

16 November 2017

Check out this Op-Ed from PSI's Director of Policy & Governance, Daniel Bertossa, on how tax dodgers like those exposed in the Paradise Papers are ripping off workers!

Pledge to #EndVaw

03 November 2017

On Friday 3rd November, Congress male participants made a pledge to end Violence against Women.

Municipal workers: the invisible, underpaid people who run our cities

31 October 2017

Millions of staff clean our streets and keep our cities moving. It’s time to recognise their contribution to the everyday fabric of our urban lives

World Cities Day 2017: Municipal workers make cities happen!

25 October 2017

PSI has chosen 31 October – UN “World Cities Day” - to launch a global visual campaign aimed at raising awareness about the work of municipal public service professionals with a view to increasing their visibility and presenting a positive perception of the many essential public services they deliver every day to cities and metropolitan areas.

Taking back control

23 October 2017

The People’s Inquiry into Privatisation launches new report today on how privatisation affects communities and calls for a moratorium on privatisation until greater regulatory mechanisms and proper policy frameworks are implemented around the delivery of public services.

World Bank must stop promoting “dangerous” public-private partnerships – New Global Campaign launched!

23 October 2017

A new campaign aimed at reversing the dangerous rush to promote expensive and high-risk public-private partnerships (PPPs) was launched yesterday by Public Services International and by 151 civil society organisations from all over the globe.

PSI contributions to the thematic consultations towards a global compact on migration in 2018

18 October 2017
First Thematic Consultation in May

The 2016 New York Declaration for Migrants and Refugees mandates the United Nations to forge a Global Compact on Migration and a Global Compact on Refugees, which will be adopted in a High-Level Conference in 2018.

Public administration workers of the Spanish foreign service go on strike on 16 October: 9-year wage freeze must end now!

16 October 2017

For the last nine years, public administration employees working abroad for the Spanish state have suffered an unjust and arbitrary wage freeze. Precarious working conditions and, in many countries, rampant inflation and strong fluctuations of local currencies have further compounded the issue.

Double standards: How the UK promotes rip-off health PPPs abroad

02 October 2017

The Jubilee Debt Campaign has released a new report: ‘Double standards: How the UK promotes rip-off health PPPs abroad’ (24 pages, with a 4 page executive summary). PSI and its affiliates has substantially contributed to the content of the report.

Presentation: Legislative attacks on public employees, public services and labor standards

12 February 2014

PSI Canadian and United States affiliates gathered in Washington, D.C. on January 30, 2014 to discuss the attacks on labor rights in North America.

The impact of hurricane Sandy on consolidated Edison of New York

10 February 2014
UWUA

This position paper produced by the Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, is an assessment of restoration efforts and gives recommendations for the future.

Human rights are not negotiable: support LGBT workers' rights!

05 February 2014
Russian LGBT logo for Olympic Games - VIXIONS

Educational International (EI) and Public Services International (PSI) join LGBT groups and other human rights defenders in condemning increasing intolerance and attacks on the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. Governments the world over appear to be abdicating their duty to protect and advance the human rights of all their citizens, including LGBT people.

Public health care vs. the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement

04 February 2014
Public health care vs the TPP agreement

A PSI - North America strategic briefing

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations are set to erect the largest, most comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) in the world today. The negotiations include 12 nation states of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam - with South Korea still considering its incorporation.

Resolution 8: Demanding Standards and Quality in Health Care Provision

31 January 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 26: International Trade Union Solidarity with Central America

30 January 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),
meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 16: Against labour reform in Mexico

30 January 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),
meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

PSI Statement: December 18 - International Migrants Day

12 December 2013

Public Services International joins the international community in commemorating the millions of migrant workers and their families all over the world and re-affirming our commitment to uphold their dignity and human rights.

Public Services for the Public Good: PSI statement on the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA)

02 December 2013

Universal quality public services and decent work are goals of economic development, to which international trade is but a means. Trade treaty rules should not force privatisation, nor interfere with the restoration or expansion of public services, where experiments with private provision fail or are rejected by democratically-elected governments. Trade treaties must not close policy space or inhibit innovation in public service provision.

Global Unions Statement of Priorities for the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference

28 November 2013

In the wake of the on-going economic crisis brought on in no small measure by the same de-regulatory forces that champion trade liberalisation, there is a real opportunity for the global community to re-think existing trade rules and arrangements. World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) accords have adversely impacted farmers and workers and they have reduced policy and regulatory space needed to actively promote decent jobs and quality public services.

PSI Statement on the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference

27 November 2013

The results of decades of corporate-led globalisation are clear for the majority of the world. Unemployment continues to afflict millions and is especially acute for the world’s youth. Inequality is growing and quality public services and labour rights are being undermined. Liberalisation of and financial speculation in commodities markets has produced ruinous price fluctuations for food and shortages that create untold harm and avoidable loss of life. The global economic crisis caused by the reckless and unregulated actions of the private financial markets has created untold suffering for workers and is now being used as the reason to implement punitive and misguided austerity programmes.

The Legislative Attack on American Wages and Labor Standards, 2011–2012

25 November 2013

Over the past two years, state legislators across the country have launched an unprecedented series of initiatives aimed at lowering labor standards, weakening unions, and eroding workplace protections for both union and non-union workers. This policy agenda undercuts the ability of low- and middle-wage workers, both union and non-union, to earn a decent wage.

Communiqué: Public Services International Steering Committee SC-17

25 November 2013
PSI Steering Committee and staff, November 2013

Angered by the continuing attacks on public services and the workers who provide these services, distressed by the rising inequality across the world and the failure of the current economic system to provide jobs, particularly for young people, the Steering Committee reiterated its commitments to the 2013-2017 Programme of Action “Social Justice through Quality Public Services” and endorsed priority actions for 2014.

Work-related violence and its integration into existing surveys

20 November 2013

Statistical measurement of violence at the workplace has been neglected, states a new ILO report presented at the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, held in Geneva, 2-11 October 2013.

The U.S. - Colombia Labor Action Plan: Failing on the Ground

19 November 2013
The U.S. - Colombia Labor Action Plan: Failing on the Ground

In this report, two members of the Congressional Monitoring Group on Labor Rights in Colombia have assessed the implementation and real-world impact of the nearly three-year-old U.S.-Colombia Labor Action Plan (LAP). The report found widespread problems with the implementation of new labor rights for Colombian workers.